But a report out this week highlights the growing popularity of a different server-side language, as more firms turn to using Node.js JavaScript at the backend of their sites and services.

While JavaScript has long been used as a scripting language in web browsers, in recent years it's also started being used on servers at the backend of the web, running inside the Node.js environment.

As the web becomes more capable, moving beyond simple websites to also include single-page web apps, so the use of Node.js JavaScript on servers is increasing.

That shifting usage was evident in a survey this week, with developers who use the front-end Vue.js JavaScript framework reporting they use Node.js JavaScript as a back-end language more frequently than PHP, as you can see below.

The growing popularity of Node.js JavaScript was captured by 2018 Node.js User Survey , which also shed light on how the language is being used.

"Node.js continues to see it's popularity grow on every continent and in a very broad set of use cases due to its flexibility and utility for a wide variety of use cases", it stated, with web apps being the most popular use case, followed by enterprise apps.

Of course, the problem with the surveys above is they are canvassing developers who work primarily with JavaScript, and who as a result may be more likely to choose Node.js at the backend.

It's also not necessarily the case that firms either wholly use a single back-end language. Organizations may use Node.js JavaScript for some sites and services and PHP on servers supporting other sites.

It's also likely true that the majority of the world's websites still run on PHP, given its use for hugely popular Content Management Systems (CMS) such as Drupal, Joomla and Wordpress. That legacy of a huge number of sites running on PHP means demand for developers with PHP skills is unlikely to dry up anytime soon.